Shufeldt, Robert Wilson, 1822-1895

Naval officer, explorer, and diplomat.

From the description of Papers of Robert Wilson Shufeldt, 1836-1910 (bulk 1860-1880). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71060443

Biographical Note

• 1822, Feb. 21: Born, Red Hook, N.Y.
• 1839: Appointed midshipman in the U.S. Navy
• 1839 - 1840 : Duty in USS United States, Home Squadron
• 1840 - 1841 : Duty in USS Potomac, Brazil Squadron
• 1841 - 1842 : Duty in USS Marion, Brazil Squadron
• 1842 - 1843 : Duty in USS Bainbridge, Home Squadron
• 1843 - 1844 : Duty in USS Potomac, Home Squadron
• 1844 - 1845 : Duty at the Naval School, Philadelphia, Pa.
• 1845: Promoted to passed midshipman
• 1845 - 1846 : Coast survey duty
• 1846: Duty in USS United States, Africa Squadron
• 1846 - 1848 : Duty in USS Marion, Africa and Mediterranean Squadrons
• 1847: Married Sarah Hutchins Abercrombie (died 1871)
• 1849: Duty in USS Morris
• 1850 - 1851 : Duty in USS Atlantic
• 1851: Duty in USS Georgia
• 1851 - 1854 : On leave from the navy
• 1854: Commissioned lieutenant Resigned from the navy
• 1854 - 1856 : Chief officer, Collins Steamship Line
• 1856 - 1861 : Commanded commercial ships and helped survey the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Mexico)
• 1861 - 1863 : Consul general, Havana, Cuba 1862 Served on a mission to Mexico
• 1863: Commissioned commander Commanded USS Conemaugh, South Atlantic Blockade Squadron
• 1863 - 1865 : Commanded USS Proteus, East Gulf Squadron
• 1865 - 1866 : Commanded USS Hartford, East India Squadron
• 1866 - 1868 : Commanded USS Wachusett, East India-Asiatic Squadron
• 1868: Ordnance duty, New York Navy Yard
• 1868 - 1869 : Commanded New York Naval Rendezvous
• 1869 - 1870 : Commanded USS Minantonomoh
• 1870: Promoted to captain Ordnance duty, Portsmouth Navy Yard
• 1870 - 1871 : Commanded Tehuantepec (Mexico) Survey Expedition
• 1871 - 1872 : Commanded USS Wabash, European Squadron
• 1872 - 1873 : Commanded USS Plymouth, European Squadron
• 1873 - 1875 : Executive officer, New York Navy Yard
• 1875 - 1878 : Chief of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting
• 1878 - 1880 : Commanded USS Ticonderoga on a world cruise sponsored by the Department of the Navy and Department of State
• 1881: Naval attaché, Peking, China
• 1882 - 1884 : President, Naval Advisory Board
• 1883 - 1884 : Superintendent, Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C
• 1884: Promoted to rear admiral Retired from the navy
• 1889: Declined post of U.S. minister to China
• 1895, Nov. 6: Died, Washington, D.C.

From the guide to the Robert Wilson Shufeldt Papers, 1836-1910, (bulk 1860-1880), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)